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Murray's Gentry House Hosts Derby Party Fundraiser

Matt Markgraf, WKMS

Murray's Gentry House holds a Derby Party fundraiser on May 2, benefiting its residential service for homeless families with children. Director Kimberly Mason and Board Member Dr. Robert Lyons join Kate Lochte on Sounds Good with more about the party, an overview of Gentry House services and dreams for its future.

The Derby Party is at the Murray Banquet Center on May 2. Tables will be set up where attendees can eat, watch races, pre races, major races, there's a contest for the best hat for females and the best dressed gentlemen. Also a cash bar. Food is included in the ticket price, which is $15 on their website or at the office: 629 Broad St. Tickets are $20 at the door.

Homelessness in Murray isn't the kind you see in major cities: holding signs or sleeping under bridges, Kimberly Mason says. What you find in Murray are the "couch surfing" homeless, where they live with family and friends, but don't have the money to get their own place for themselves and their children. It tends to be "invisible" in Murray because it's not out front and in the open, she says. Staying with families and friends can cause tension and could be a safety issue for children, so they try to help avoid those situations at The Gentry House.

The Gentry House has small apartments with basic amenities and furnishings. They're for families with children who are in a time of transition. It's a place of 'safe harbor' so families can save money over the 90 days they're allowed to stay, before moving out to permanent housing - whether it's through the housing authority or a rental in the community. Transitions have been successful, Mason says, adding that a majority of people move out to an apartment. Not many go back to living with friends or family. Most people who come to The Gentry House already have jobs and are able to save that money to get their own place. Some people just need that extra bit of savings to be able to get established, she says.

If people need to rejoin, they must wait a year to sign up again to allow other families the chance to come through. There is currently a waiting list of six families. It's a hard call telling families she can't help a family at that moment, she says. Murray is a small community with not many options.

Dr. Robert Lyons says the budget is between $42,000 - $45,000 annually. This covers utilities, insurance, costs for maintenance, educational programming like financial planning, and operations salary. Money comes primarily from donations. They are not funded by the housing authority. "I think we all can all look back and see we were helped along the way by somebody in a big way or a small way," he says.

Their dreams are to provide shelter for single and married people without children. Dr. Lyons says this would take a significant amount of funding for the construction of a building, maintenance and oversight. But, he adds, it's important to look down the road at not just what the current needs are but what they will be.

The Gentry House website

Matt Markgraf joined the WKMS team as a student in January 2007. He's served in a variety of roles over the years: as News Director March 2016-September 2019 and previously as the New Media & Promotions Coordinator beginning in 2011. Prior to that, he was a graduate and undergraduate assistant. He is currently the host of the international music show Imported on Sunday nights at 10 p.m.
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